RIP Handsome Harley Race (the wrestler, not the SJ poster)

[Baron Scicluna]

A man who is considered by many in the wrestling history as legitimately the second toughest man in the business (After King Toga/Haku/Meng, who Race even said was the toughest)

My favorite story of him, perhaps apocryphal, is that he once slapped Ken McElroy, (the Missouri town bully who was shot and killed in front of the entire town as portrayed in “In Broad Daylight”) off a barstool because McElroy was bullying some elderly men. McElroy, who never backed down to anyone, backed down to Race.

Little know fact about him is that in the beginning of his career, he married a woman and then shortly thereafter, while on the way to a match, was in a car crash that killed his wife and nearly ended his career.


All in all, the wrestling world lost one of its legitimately toughest today. RIP

 

[swingline]

He was a fixture at Wrestling at the Chase along with Bulldog Bob Brown and many others. Without Race, there probably would have been no Hulk Hogan.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

My favorite story of him, perhaps apocryphal, is that he once slapped Ken McElroy, (the Missouri town bully who was shot and killed in front of the entire town as portrayed in “In Broad Daylight”) off a barstool because McElroy was bullying some elderly men. McElroy, who never backed down to anyone, backed down to Race.

Minor Threadjack: But wasn't that also the inspiration for "Road House" too?

(Which included wrassler Terry Funk?)

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Minor Threadjack: But wasn't that also the inspiration for "Road House" too?

(Which included wrassler Terry Funk?)

Perhaps. McElroy’s story and what happened to him is unreal.

 

[Sea Bass]

Without Race, there probably would have been no Hulk Hogan.

What do you mean? Not arguing, just curious.

 

[HappyCurmudgeon]

Met Harley quite a few times. Definitely not a man to **** with. Great stories though from back in those old wrestling days.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Justified for messing with chili.